Modesto Christian vs. Central Valley girls basketball playoff game

Starters:
Central Valley (22-7) is the Northern Section runner-up.
10. Ashley Sanchez, a 5-8 Jr.
12. Jordan Conner, a 5-4 Jr.
13. Lala Forrest-Cawker, a 5-9 Soph. and their leading scorer.
14. Heide Saechao, a 5-3 Jr.
32. Breanna Mackie, a 6-1 sophomore.

Modesto Christian (24-7) is the Sac-Joaquin Section champion.
15. Marinna McKeever, a 5-6 Jr.
23. Brandi Henton, a 5-8 Jr.
24. Stefani Agostini, a 5-8 Sr.
31. Lauren Lucchesi, a 6-0 Sr.
33. Taryn Garza, a 5-11 Jr.

CV wins the jump. And Garza with a steal and lay-up to open the game.
McKeever with a steal on the inbounds and it';s 4-0.

Central Valley breaks the MC press and it's Forrest-Cawker to Mackie for 2, but Agostini follows with a 3 and MC leads 7-2 one minute in.

Forrest-Cawker is a physical guard who looks like she knows what she's doing. Not afraid to drive inside and draw contact, and CV's last two possessions that's exactly what she's done and made 3 of 4 FTs.

She breaks the MC press again for a layup and it's 7-7. And Henton on the other end with a layup for a 9-7 MC lead. And MC steals the inbounds again! And again for two layups by Lucchesi and Henton. 13-7, MC with 5"14 left in the 1st.

Lucchesi with a baseline jumper just inside the 3-point line, and MC leads 16-7 and Central Valley wants a time out.

With 4:05 left in the 1st, it's 16-7, MC. The Crusaders' full-court press is giving the Falcons all sorts of problems. Any time a CV player other than Forrest-Cawker gets the ball, it's been a steal.

Farroest-Cawker with two FTs and Mackey with an inside jumper and this game is 19-13, MC, after the 1st quarter. The Falcons have two players who are on the Crusaders' level, but it becomes a little more interesting when another player has the ball.

Unofficial scoring:
MC - Henton 5, Lucchesi 5, McKeever 4, Agostini 3, Garza 2.
CV - Forrest-Cawker 9, Mackie 4.

McKeever fouled shooting a 3-pointer.... Miss. Good. And miss. MC leads 22-15 with 5:45 left in the 2nd.

This game is far closer than it probably should be. MC is pretty cold from outside of 10 feet and has had a bunch of short shots rim out as well. The Crusaders have probably attempted twice as many field goals as CV.

Teams trading baskets. Saechao from the free throw line for CV. Then Garza down low for MC. And Forrest-Cawker with a 14-footer to pulled CV within 24-19 with 4:30 left in the 2nd.

Agostini and Ashley Sanchez (CV) trade 3-pointers. It's close! 27-23, MC, with 3:44 left in the 2nd.

McKeever with a big baseline 3 and Valerie Moore with an inside bucket and after a Henton FT MC is now up 33-23.

Garza steal, Henton layup. 35-23.

Henton with an offensive rebounds and putback at the halftime buzzer!

MC up to a comfortable 39-25 lead. Van Halen's Jump playing over the PA as the Corning and MC boys teams start shooting.

Unofficial halftime scoring:
MC - Henton 10, Agostini 8, McKeever 7, Lucchesi 5, Garza 4, Moore 2. (Yes, mathletes, I know I'm missing three points ... That's why these are unofficial!)
CV - Forrest-Cawker 13, Mackie 6, Sanchez 4, Saechao 2.

MC gymnasium pretty full. If you want to get in for the boys game you'd better be somebody with a pass or a Corning fan!

Second half starting up. MC ball. After they trade possessions, Agostini with a 3-pointer and MC's up 42-25.

And McKeever with a layup as MC has opened up a 20-point lead. It's 46-26 with 4:23 left in the 3rd quarter.

MC coach Robb Spencer has been shuttling players in and out throughout the game. And they're all pretty much the same: A physical, pressing athletic player that hasn't allowed Central Valley to get into any sort of rhythm.

MC leads 50-32 with 2:30 left in the third.

I've received an e-mail that the doors are closed. Some seats may open up as Central Valley's fans leave after the game, but I wouldn't bet on it. Looks like you're stuck here!

After three quarters, the MC girls are up 58-36 and looking like a good bet to move on to a NorCal semifinal home game against either Santa Cruz or Marin Catholic on Thursday.

Interesting note on this game: We've got an all-female officiating crew!

whats your prediction for the boys game? close or like this one?

The MC boys are at least as favored as the girls. Plus, they played one of their best games of the year in their last game. Confidence back and playing a North Section runner-up means I'm thinking this'll be a 25-30 point victory. Thursday will be very good, though.

MC girls up 66-45 with 3:46 left in the game.

73-47 MC with 1:42 left. CV at the FT line.

Forrest-Cawker just fouled out with 1:25 left in the game. It's 73-48 MC.

And the fans are on their feet, chanting, "MC! MC! MC!" And it's over! MC wins 75-48 and moves on to Thursday's semifinal at home against the Santa Cruz/Marin Catholic winner. We should have that result at some point tonight.

Boys are warming up and tipoff will be in about 15 minutes.

Rich Estrada will be blogging the boys game at http://thehive.modbee.com/warningtrackpower

Will.

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